The River Eden is one of England's finest game fishing rivers, flowing approximately 90 miles from its source high on Mallerstang Common near the North Yorkshire border, northwestward through the Eden Valley in Cumbria before emptying into the Solway Firth. Uniquely, it holds the distinction of being the only northward-running river to the sea in England. The river passes through a stunning and varied landscape of meadows, woodland, remote farmland, and unspoilt countryside, earning it protected status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EC Habitats Directive. This protected status is a direct reflection of the exceptional quality of fishing the Eden offers. The river holds the record for the largest fly-caught salmon in England and is widely regarded as one of the finest salmon rivers in the north of the country. Its wild brown trout fishing is equally celebrated, and the abundance of grayling means that fly anglers can pursue quality fish throughout the year without ever putting their rods away.